Improvement in mail-bag fastenings



E. W. 'PROUTT MAIL BAG FASTENING.

Patente-d Ma'y 2-, .1876] N, PETERS, PHOTO-LITHOGRAPNER. WSHINGTON. D C.

-PIrrEN'r OFFICE.

EMEEsoN-W. TEoUT, or REED cITY, MCHIGAN.

IMPROVEMENT IN MAIL-BAG FASTENINGS.

Specication forming part of Letters Patent No. 177,034, datedMay 2,1876; application filed March 30, 1876. A

To all whom it may concern Beit known that I, EMERSON W. TROUT, of Reed City, in the county ot Osceola, in the State of Michigan, have .invented a new and Improved Mode of Securely Fastening United States Mail-Bags; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, making a part of this specification.

M y invention is an improvement upon the manner of fastening and securing mail-bags; and it has for its object the complete security of mail matter in transportation from liability to unfastening or tearing asunder by violent means. j

The bag, which is fashioned in the usual way, has a flap extending up from its mouth, which is pierced by a slot, surrounded by an eseutcheon, to slip over a staple, which issecured by riveting against a plate of metal on the back of the bag. This flap has secured to it a solid strip of sole-leather, extending across the full width of the bag, and is mounted with solid pieces ot' iron at either end, which are firmly riveted to the flap. Another ap is secured to the frontl leather of the bag; and it has also at its loose edge a similar strip of sole-leather and iron mountings. When the bag is fastened this second tlap drops down in front of the bag out of the way.

The front leather of the bag is guarded by a strip of vsole-leather, like that on either flap, extending the full Width of the bag, and riveted to it. Both flaps and the frontleather ofthe bag have slots surrounded by-metal escutcheons to slip over the staple.

On the back ot' the bag, at either side, are metal plates, provided with eyes or loops. In these loops, at either side, are hinged counter plates or bars, one ot' which is recessed at itslarger end to receive the other, which lits snugly lagainst it. These bars lap together over the staple.

In the accompanying drawing,.Figure 1 is front elevation of bag, with the back llap up and front flap down, the bag being open.

Fig. 2 is a transverse vvsection of bag open.

. Fig. 3 is a front elevatiomshowing bag closed and secured. Fig. 4 is a tranverse section of same. Fig. 5 is a back elevation of bag closed. t Y

Similar reference-letters denote like parts in all the figures.

A is theback flap, having the slot B, with escutcheon C. D D are the strips ot' soleleather secured to the edges ofthe tlaps and the front leather of bag. Dl D' are the metal plates forming the armor to the ilaps. Eis the staple fastened with the plate L and rivets to the bag at itsA back. F F are plates, with eyes or loops G. G, riveted to the back leather of the bag. H H are the counter plates or bars, which lap over each other, and are secured by a padlock through the staple l. K is the recess in plate or bar H', which tits snugly over the plate H.

It will be observed that in fastening the bag the flap A is thrown down, so that the slot B will slip over the staple I. The tlap or apron K is then lifted'upuntil the corresponding slot B slips over the staple and rests on the tlap A. Thev counter pla-tes or bars' are then placed one on the other, and the bag is then ready for the padlock. When the bag is opened the bars drop to either side,

and are entirely out of the way.

In noticing the manner ot' securing the bag it will be seen that the plate L, to which the staple is riveted, the plates M, and bars H H combine to hold the mouth of the bag firmly closed,l as it' clamped in a vise, while the plates D D' serve as a protection to the fastening aga-inst rough handling.

It is obvious also that the leather strips D D, when the bag is closed, form a recess to receive the bars H H', and which, in la manner, protect them from friction and liability to being bent or torn asunder by rough usage. v

-Being aware that the ,manner v-ot closing the mouths of mail-bags with double flaps is t old and common, I claim nothing for this broadly; but

What I do claiin,and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isl 1. In a mail-bag, the combination of'the4 plates' D D', as and forzthe purpose set two flaps, with `plates F and L attachd to forth. the hack of the bag, the staple 1 and the bars Dated Reed City, February 28, 1876.

H H', all arranged as described, for the pur- EMERSON W. TROUT. pose set forth. l Witnesses: 2. In combination with the two aps, the 4 A. J. CALHOUN,

soie-leather strip's D D D and metal armor- A. H. MCGLELLAN. 

